Growing Together: Our Saturday Garden Activities

Every Saturday from 2:30 to 3:30 pm, we had garden activities in our office. It was a special time when we all came together to take care of our place and enjoy working in the garden.

We started this activity to involve everyone on our team. It helped us work together and build good relationships. We wanted everyone to feel equal and connected. We also wanted to take care of our space by growing plants and keeping it clean and green.

What We Did:

Each Saturday, our team organized and carried out different garden activities. We planned the tasks together and supported each other in doing them. We watered the plants, sowed spinach seeds based on the weather, collected flower seeds, and planted saplings in different places. We also arranged for small fixing work to improve the garden, like setting up the space and taking care of the tools.

We harvested spinach and tomatoes from our garden. We cooked them in our office kitchen and shared the meals. It felt like “grow food” – and that made us happy, proud, and excited to do more.

A Special Time:

Every Saturday gave us a new experience. We learned, shared, and enjoyed nature together. It made us feel peaceful and connected. I’m thankful for these moments and excited to continue.

This activity didn’t just help grow plants—it helped us grow as individuals and as a team. It made our office feel more alive and like a second home.

We thank every team member for being part of this journey. Your support, energy, and care made it all possible. Together, we made something beautiful happen.

Auroville Joins the International Day of Yoga – My Two-Day Journey of Energy and Awareness

-SandhiyaBala, Sivaguru and Ajay I

This year, Auroville joined people around the world in celebrating the International Day of Yoga on June 21st, a special day declared by the United Nations in 2014. Two events were held on June 20th and 21st, and I had the opportunity to participate in both. It was a joyful and meaningful experience for me.

Day 1: Surya Namaskar Challenge

20 June, 6:30 AM | Dehashakti Sports Ground

Many people came together early in the morning at the sports ground for the Surya Namaskar Challenge. There were three levels to choose from:

  • Beginner (Ārambhakaḥ): 21 Surya Namaskars
  • Intermediate (Madhyamaḥ): 54 Surya Namaskars
  • Advanced (Pravīṇaḥ): 108 Surya Namaskars

I was happy to see children from schools around Auroville taking part. Their energy and interest were inspiring. I felt tired after doing the Surya Namaskars, but I also felt strong, fresh, and peaceful inside.

This event made me realize how important it is to take care of our body and mind. I now want to practice yoga every day, even if just for a short time.

Day 2: International Day of Yoga Celebration

21 June, 5:30–7:00 AM | Amphitheatre, Matrimandir

The next morning, we gathered at the beautiful Amphitheatre near the Matrimandir. The place was silent and peaceful. As the sun came up, we practiced yoga together. It was a special feeling to do yoga in this sacred place with people of all ages.

It was not just about exercise—it was also about connecting with ourselves, being still, and breathing mindfully. I felt very calm and full of positive energy afterward.

Reflection:

Sandhiya Balaanand- What I Take Away

My name is Sandhiya Balaanand, and I stand for Courage, care, and Happiness for myself and others. I notice that participating in both events was not only rejuvenating but also a personal awakening. Watching the younger generation participate and interact with such sincerity gave me hope.

These two days reminded me that yoga is not just for one day. It can be a daily habit to help us stay healthy and happy.

I want to thank Nilima and Muthukumari from AVPEB and the Marathon Yoga Team for organizing these events. It was wonderful to be part of them.

I also saw how much children enjoyed and learned from the sessions. It gave me hope for the future—when young people understand the value of yoga, they grow stronger and wiser.

Sivaguru Prasath:

My name is Sivaguru Prasath and i stand for courage, full potential and Equanimity for myself and others. Being part of the Yoga Day events in Auroville made me feel fresh, calm, and more connected with myself. Seeing so many children and people join inspired me to practice yoga every day, even if just for a few minutes. Yoga is not just for one day—it’s a way to live better every day

Ajay:

My name is Ajay and I stand for self awareness for myself and others. Attending the Surya Namaskar Challenge and the International Yoga Day in Auroville was amazing. On Day 1, doing Surya Namaskars with kids around was energizing—it reminded me how movement connects us. Day 2 at the Matrimandir was peaceful and spiritual. Practicing yoga in that space made me feel calm and centered. These two days showed me how yoga strengthens both body and mind. Now, I feel inspired to continue yoga daily, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Installation of Cameras on Campus

-Durai and Ajay I

Students from AIAT College have been interning with C3streamland for about two months. During this period, they were assigned various tasks, including the installation of security cameras around the campus. 

For this activity, they selected specifications that meet the campus’s security needs, covering areas such as the outdoors, kitchen exterior, and dormitory areas. As part of the project, they listed the necessary components and identified vendors to request quotations. This process allowed them to engage in external partner communication and selection as part of their internship experience. They chose the vendor offering the best quotation, purchased the required items, and handled the configuration themselves before installation. 

To install the security cameras, they planned cable routing across all three buildings and dug small trenches between the buildings to lay the cables. They completed the digging within a day and installed PVC pipes both underground and along the building walls—inside and outside—with guidance from mentors. This was done without disturbing the existing infrastructure. 

They successfully completed the camera wiring. The entire project took about three days. Throughout the process, the students learned about material selection, vendor evaluation, project planning, installation, and setting up a security system. 

Laptop Hinge Fixed by the Interns

-Durai and Ajay I

Students from AIAT College have been interning at C3STREAM Land Designs for about two months. During this time, they have been learning not only software development but also gaining hands-on experience with hardware—understanding how systems work and how to troubleshoot them. 

A problem occurred with one of the laptops in STEM Land: it couldn’t be opened because the top panel hinge had become tight and eventually broke. 

Previously, we would either call a service technician or take the laptop to a service centre. Replacing the top panel typically costs around ₹4000 or more, depending on the laptop model. 

However, one of the interns, Ranjith, came up with an idea to fix it using Araldite super glue, which costs around ₹70. With this, we were able to successfully repair the laptop, and it has been working well since. 

Two weeks later, another laptop in STEM Land faced the same issue. We used the remaining glue from the previous repair and fixed it successfully as well. 

This experience highlighted how mentorship, combined with learning from both, can help an organization see the bigger picture and solve problems at minimal cost.

Electronics Workshop-2025

-SandhiyaBala, Pratap, Sivaguru, Ajay I, Tamil, Preethi P, Kethsiyaal and Kugan

Hands-on Learning with C3STREAM Land Design at AIAT Campus

C3STREAM Land Design organized an exciting Electronics Workshop at the AIAT Campus this summer. It was one of three hands-on workshops offered during the summer of 2025. Each workshop had 30 participants, and sessions were conducted in English, with Tamil language support where needed.

The workshop ran for five days, from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM. It was completely free and open to participants aged 13 years and above. Upon completion, every learner received a Certificate. The only requirement was a basic understanding of mathematics, like simple calculations.

Before we began each daily session of the Electronics Workshop – 2025, we practiced Radical Transformational Leadership (RTL) tools. These tools helped us become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and supported us in living our core values like courage, care, responsibility, and curiosity.

This practice helped us come to the sessions with a clear mind, an open heart, and a strong intention to learn. It was a powerful way to start the day—not just for learning electronics, but also for growing as individuals.

RTL tools reminded us that learning is not just about knowledge, but also about becoming the best version of ourselves.

Day 1: Understanding the Basics

We started by discussing why electronics might feel difficult and how to learning them. We learned key concepts such as:

  • Charge (Ah)
  • Voltage (V)
  • Current (I)
  • Power (VA)
  • Energy (VAh)

To make it easier to understand, we used a water analogy. For example, we compared the charge to the amount of water, and the voltage to water pressure. We also explored how to check the current of a mobile battery using its capacity.

Day 2: Tools and Measurement

We recall previous session topics, electronics, and chose to learn with interest. We were introduced to the multimeter, a tool that helps measure:

  • Resistance
  • Voltage
  • Connectivity

We even measured our body resistance, first without and then with conducting gel. We used a fun device called Makey Makey to explore conductivity and also began learning about LEDs.

Day 3: Building Simple Circuits

We continued learning about LEDs and how to connect them with resistors. We built circuits using LEDs in series and parallel. Then, we practiced soldering and desoldering—skills needed to work with real electronic components.

Day 4: Components and Circuits

 We learned about:

  • Voltage sources
  • NPN Transistors
  • Diodes

Then, we built a circuit using a transistor and LED. We also built a charger circuit on a breadboard using a 9V transformer, diodes, a capacitor, and a LM7805 voltage regulator IC. We were introduced to Every Circuit, a website where we can design and simulate circuits.

Day 5: Big Picture Thinking

We explored the difference between AC and DC, and learned about AC RMS voltages like 230V and 440V. Then, we built the charger circuit again to better understand how each component works together.

By the end of the workshop, many of us who once feared electronics gained confidence and a clearer understanding of how electronic systems work. We built real circuits, used real tools, and had real fun!

This hands-on workshop helped us realize that learning electronics is not only possible, but also exciting and empowering.

Here are the reflections from our organizing team members,

Sivaguruprasath:

My name is Sivaguruprasath, and I stand for Courage, full potential, and equanimity for myself and others. While guiding the children on the team, I noticed that I am responsible for their growth and learned to be consistent and perseverance.

SandhiyaBala:

My name is SandhiyaBala, and I stand for courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. I learnt many things from the participants. I have learnt real-life theory and experimented with those things in the workshop. Making circuits for a mobile charger, soldering, and desoldering the PCB board.

Kethsiyaal:

My name is Kethsiyaal, I stand for kindness and courage for myself and others. During the electronics workshop, I had the valuable opportunity to support children in learning the fundamentals of electronics. This experience was both enriching and refreshing, as it allowed me to engage with electronics. As a team, we built a cell phone charger. I guided the children in identifying components like resistors, capacitors, diodes, and voltage regulators, while also encouraging them to ask questions and experiment safely. This experience was how it helped me recall and apply my foundational knowledge in basic electronics.

Tamil:

My name is Tamil. I stand for courage and compassion for myself and others.

In the electronics workshop, I learned how to make a mobile charger. It made me feel curious and excited to learn more. First, I learned about the different parts used in a charger, like diodes, capacitors, transformers, and the IC. I understood how each part works and how they all connect together to make the charger function.

I also learned how to solder and desolder, which are important skills in electronics. Using tools like the analyzer and oscilloscope helped me see how the circuit works in real time. These hands-on activities helped me understand the subject better than just reading from a book. The best part was when we finished building the charger and tested it by charging a mobile phone — and it worked! That moment made me feel very proud, confident, and excited to learn even more in the future. This workshop showed me that I can build useful things with my own hands, and it made me more interested in electronics.

Ajay:

My name is Ajay, and I am passionate about fostering self-awareness in myself and others. While preparing for a workshop, I learned new skills, including soldering and desoldering components, as well as the basics of electronics, such as using a multimeter, function generator, and oscilloscope. I applied these skills to build my mobile charger using a bridge rectifier. During the workshop, I shared my knowledge with others, helping them understand circuits.

Preethi P:

My name is Preethi P. I stand for courage and happiness for myself and others. In the electronic workshop, I learnt about basic electronic concepts like voltage, current, power, energy, LED, resistor/resistance, capacitor, and how to find the amount of current the app is being used. How to use a multimeter, soldering, and desoldering. while doing soldering, the children were engaged and enthusiastic. We build chargers at the end of the workshop. This work gave me a lot of basics about electronics and how to handle children.

Kugan:

My name is Kugan I stand equality for my self and others. the sessions were engaging and provided valuable insights. The students displayed a keen interest and actively participated in discussions, which enriched the learning experience for everyone involved.

Saturday, Sanfort School Activity

-Ilakiya, Sivasankar, Ajai, NithyaSandhosh

Every week, around 25 students from Sanfort International School will visit STEMLand to explore STEM activities. The school is a part of Sanvi Educational and Charitable Trust, which focuses on improving the well-being of marginalized groups, particularly differently abled children, the elderly and women. They offer educational support, care, and vocational training to empower these individuals and promote social inclusion.

On April 12, students got to explore some fun interesting activities based on Electronics lead by SivaSankar.

To understand how a DC motor works, we did a fun activity using simple and easily available materials like batteries, enamel wires, and magnets. In a group of five, students enjoyed experimenting with the batteries and magnets. With help from their team members, they got the motor to work. They felt proud and accomplished because they made something that runs using just a few basic items.

As a reflection on what they did, the students wrote down the steps of the process and explained how it worked. They were also curious to learn more—asking questions like how it works, where they could find these materials, and what the names of the different parts were.

In the next activity, they made an electromagnet using electric current. They also connected this new learning to the previous DC motor activity.

These two hands-on activities inspired the children to build things and wonder about how everyday objects (like their toys) work. Since the activities were done by the students themselves, we saw that both boys and girls enjoyed them equally.

Reflections:

SivaSankar:
Helping students build a simple DC motor was a really fun and eye-opening experience. We used everyday things like enamel wire, magnets, and batteries, and it was amazing to see how they worked together to make the motor spin. This showed us how electricity and magnets can create movement, which is the basic idea behind electromagnets. Seeing the students so excited when their motors actually worked reminded me how fun and powerful hands-on learning can be. It made science feel real and easy to understand. This activity showed that even simple materials can teach big ideas and help students enjoy learning.

Ilakya Arasi:
I realised that I need to have a curious mind to enjoy anything, without that I won’t really care to know why or how something is happening and that will stop me from growing. I realised that all of us have it with us, it just need to be induced for a child to grow and learn efficiently.

Ajai:
My name is Ajai.D. I stand for equality for myself and others. When I work with children I feel connected with them. When I work with them I notice While we were working on our hands-on project, they weren’t able to do perfectly at the beginning. However, they kept working on it persistently, making adjustments and trying different approaches until the project was successful. By doing the project themselves they gain deeper understanding. Watching children work like this reminds me that learning is a process, not a one-time event. They taught me to be more open-minded, curious, and determined in my own work too.

NithyaSandhosh:
My name is Nithyasandhosh. I deeply care about kindness and equality for myself and for others. Recently, I supported a Saturday activity with Sanfort international school children. I taught them how to build a DC motor and explained its working principle. While teaching, I learned when children are introduced to new concepts in a way that allows them to explore and play, they stay engaged and focused. They don’t get distracted easily.  Playful learning not only helps children understand complex ideas but also fosters curiosity and deep concentration.

Students Reflection:
They shared that it was fun making these activities and they would like to do it more and learn on the upcoming weeks.

Other activities:
After the two activities, students explored some games, rubix cubes and cast puzzles.

Plaksha School Visit

-Ilakiya, Tamil, Rajesh, Sivaguru and Aarthi

STEMland was invited by Plaksha School in Andhra Pradesh for a three-day session to work with students. The school is growing and focuses on children’s holistic development and creativity, similar to Auroville. This marks the fourth school we have visited in the last six months.

During the three-day session, we engaged students in electronics, visual mathematics, robotics, and leadership activities. We also explored how technology is value-neutral and how it can be used effectively.

We began our session by helping students discover their inner values, followed by an activity on calculating electricity bills. As expected, many students were familiar with electronics, but we realized that their existing knowledge could sometimes lead to confusion. To address this, we used visual analogies to explain various electrical concepts, which helped them understand and calculate their domestic power consumption.

Since we remember more from seeing than just hearing, we focused on visualizing mathematical concepts to enhance understanding and retention. Hands-on learning with materials made the process more engaging and playful. With younger children, we worked on multiplying two numbers using Diene’s blocks and Polypad. With slightly older students, we explored fractions using a fraction kit and practiced multiplication with Diene’s blocks.

Students enjoyed learning with these materials and applying their knowledge on Polypad. As the materials and laptops were limited, they shared resources with others and handled them with care. When we introduced electronic activities, it sparked excitement among the students.

On the final day, after a few more electronic activities, we concluded with robotics. With our guidance, students coded using different sensors and programmed robots to follow a mapped path. We wrapped up the session with reflections from the children, who shared their experiences and learnings.

Reflection:

My name is Ilakya Arasi. I stand for kindness and courage for myself and others. I learnt that one of the best ways to make someone feel welcomed when the students are full of excitement to learn new things and love for others. Their curiosity made us learn from them.

My name is Tamil. I stand for currage and compassion for my self and others. This session was a great experience for me. It also helped the children become smarter and kinder.
We did RTL and electronics sessions. The children really enjoyed the electronics session. They were excited and curious in every session, and they learned a lot by giving their best effort. Seeing their curiosity and energy inspired me.
I realized that I also want to learn new things with the same curiosity and effort. This session taught me the importance of staying curious and giving my best in everything I learn. It was a valuable experience for both me and the children.

My name Rajesh and I stand for care and integrity for myself and others i learnt that teaching children basic electronics and mathematics in a practical way makes learning engaging and fun while building a strong foundation for problem-solving and creativity. By using hands-on activities like simple circuits, LED experiments,  children can grasp fundamental concepts such as voltage, current, and resistance. Practical math applications, like measuring voltage, understanding ratios, and using basic algebra in real-world scenarios, help them see the relevance of mathematics in everyday life. Encouraging experiments fosters curiosity and innovation. By blending play with learning, children develop a deeper understanding of concepts which makes them more confident and eager to explore further.

Sivaguru Prasath
During the 3-day electronics sessions, we introduced RTL tools such as Stand and Fear, helping students understand their universal values.

We guided the children in understanding concepts such as voltage, current, power, energy, LED, resistor/resistance, potentiometer, and the 7-segment LED. We also gave them a few activities to complete on their own using the components. The children were highly enthusiastic, interacted well, and gained clarity on the concepts. I also noticed that their curiosity and interest motivated us to teach them beyond the planned concepts. Additionally, we explained mathematical concepts such as fractions (using the fraction kit) and multiplication (using Diene’s blocks)

My name is Aarthi, I stand for equality, integrity and perseverance for  myself and others.  It’s my first time attending the Andra workshop. Students are good in communication, we taught electronics, RTL, Polypad, Snap programming in Finch. Also  we taught Tamil words and they taught hindi words it was very nice.  I got a new ideas and good experience from the workshop.Thank you Sanjeev anna and my team for giving this  opportunity. Thankyou.

Auroville Cyclothon: More Than Just a Ride

-Preethi R and Nithya Santhosh

At STEM Land we each explore our learning and growth and Auroville presents us many opportunities. A couple of us participated in the second annual Cyclothon at Auroville, where people of all ages joined together to enjoy cycling. The event was full of energy, enthusiasm, and a spirit of togetherness. The Auroville Cyclothon was not just an event. It was a journey one that connected people, nature, and a shared purpose.

The Cyclothon offered three route options where the participants could choose from different routes based on their comfort level. Short Ride (25 km), Medium Ride (50 km), Long Ride (100 km).

No one rode alone. Even if you came as a single cyclist, you became part of something bigger. Strangers cheered for each other. Volunteers handed out water with a smile. At every stop, there was warmth, support, and encouragement. This is what real progress looks like, not just moving forward, but moving forward together. The Cyclothon ended with deep meaning for us.

Reflections:

Preethi. R

My name is preethi, I stand for kindness and courage for myself and others. What I learnt from the Auroville Cyclothon was not just about cycling. It was about learning, growing, and feeling connected—to myself, to others, and to nature. And most importantly, it reminded me that every journey is special when I keep moving forward. Reaching the end felt great, but the best moments were during the ride, I learned that life is not just about goals. It is about enjoying every moment along the way.

Nithyasandhosh

My name is Nithyasandhosh. I deeply care about kindness and equality for myself and others. I participated in the Auroville Cyclothon 2025, a 25-kilometer event. Many people took part in this event. I was inspired by the organizing team, as they put in their full potential to make this happen. I thoroughly enjoyed cycling. They also arranged good food for all participants. After the event, I started cycling on alternate days. Next year, I plan to inspire my office mates to join the Cyclothon and share the joy of cycling.

Garden clean up with teams

~ Saranya, Kethsiyaal, Poovizhi, Arun Kumar, Sri Bhavani

This team activity takes place every Saturday. We come together and work as a team. Our team consists of people from different backgrounds, including software, hardware, Shifuians, B.Voc students, and STEM land.

We have formed teams of six members, each assigned to a specific area to clean. Our designated cleaning area was located opposite our office. While working together, we planned to clear a certain section of grass from the ground. By following our plan, we successfully completed the task. When we shared a common goal and worked in sync, we were able to stay focused, clean efficiently, and enjoy the experience of collaborating with teammates from different fields.

This activity helped us connect with new people and become more involved in organizational activities.

After cleaning, we returned all the tools to their designated places. It felt good to take responsibility.

Reflections and observation:

Saranya:

My name is Saranya and I deeply care about perseverance and happiness for myself and others. When I work with people from different teams, I see new possibilities. It helps me become more available to others and makes me more approachable. This experience strengthens team unity.

Kethsiyaal:

 My name is Kethsiyaal, I stand for kindness and wisdom for myself and others. I see Collaboration & Team Spirit while working on removing unwanted grass as together on a common task fosters teamwork, strengthens relationships among colleagues, and creates a shared sense of achievement.

Poovizhi:

Every Saturday, our team spends one hour doing a group activity. We do gardening, cleaning, or repair work on our campus. This helps us stay active, work together with team members from different areas, and keep our campus clean and beautiful.

Last time, we enjoyed spinach for lunch that we harvested from our own garden. It tasted really good! Growing our own food made us appreciate the effort behind it, and we felt happy to eat something fresh and natural.

These activities help us connect with nature, even though we are engineers working on software and layout design. It also gives us a break from screens and helps us work together in a different way. We learn new things, have fun, and feel a sense of satisfaction in improving our surroundings.

Arun: 

Working in the garden taught me the importance of teamwork and helping each other. Clearing grass, adding compost, and making beds became easy when we shared the work. I learned that patience and effort give good results, and even small help matters. Working together gave me joy and made our bond stronger. This experience showed me that with understanding and support, we can do any work better.

Sribhavani:

My name is Sri Bhavani. I stand for Love and Equality for myself and others.

As part of new initiatives this year, everyone in our organization has stepped forward to support and create gardens around our campus. Every Saturday, we take part in this activity to make our campus greener with trees and plants. This also gives team members an opportunity to work together collaboratively. From this activity, I can see that I am the change I wish to see when I work with my team. And also I remembered the RTL tool all the professions have their own value and impact.